Peace endures over chaos

It seems like everything is out of control.

Last week, an earthquake rocked Nepal.  Riots broke out in Baltimore.  At the Supreme Court, arguments were heard for and against same-sex marriage.  Every time I turned on the news, there was another controversy or scene of violence and devastation. 

It's at time like this that I must remember's Paul's advice in the Ephesians 6.  He talks about putting on the full armor of God, and specifically says we must wear the shoes of the gospel of peace.  Now, shoes secure my feet, but they also protect them from injury.  Cleats, like the shoes Roman warriors wore, even provide grip into the ground.  So when Paul talks about the shoes of the Gospel of peace, he says Jesus secures us and protects us.  With him, we can dig again against the dark forces of the universe.

Make no mistake, Satan and his minions are agents of chaos.  Satan loves disorder and mayhem.  Satan likes to steal, kill and destroy - which is the ultimate by-product of chaos.  If Satan had his way, the world would descent to never-ended anarchy. He loves when peace is disrupted and others are suffering.

So Paul says that as Christian we must put on the shoes of the Gospel of peace.  We must be sharers of peace and spreaders of peace.  We must go into spiritual battle armed with peace and secure in the peace we get from a relationship with Jesus Christ.

When we see chaos erupt, we must respond with Jesus.  We cannot endure the spiritual battles we face.  Not on our own.  When violence breaks out, natural disasters take their toll or legal arugments threaten our way of life, we must respond with Jesus.  He is the only one who can bring change and the only one we can count on in chaotic times.

So put on the shoes of peace and rest easy that Jesus is in control of all situations.

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